"We've found about 40 eggs so far, the exact number has not been established," a university spokesman said.

"There could be many more laying under the ground."

The university said some of the 'eggs' measured as long as 102 centimetres.

"The discovery is sensational not only for our republic, but because of the size of the eggs."

"There have never been such large (eggs) in the world."

Russian state television showed scientists scrambling about on a rocky mountainside chipping samples off the puzzling rock formations.

Chechnya has been trying to cast aside its reputation as a war-torn republic plagued by rampant corruption by hosting lavish sports and entertainment events and announcing plans for a large ski resort.

But a palaeontologist in Moscow questioned the authenticity of the reported discovery.